Egbert slade ash



(No Model.)-

B. s. ASH;

VENTILATING SEWERS, BRAINS, MINES; 110sPImLs, sz .v No. 355,116.Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

I C A \-Wz$1wsses,

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SLADE ASH, OF VILLA DE LA RIVA, MON AGO.

VENTILATING SEWERS', DRAINS, 'MINES, HOSPITALS, 81.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,116, dated December28, 1886.

Application filed October 28, 1886. Serial No. 217,392. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT SLADE AsH, residing at Villa de la Riva, inthe Principality of Monaco, dentist, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in an Apparatus for Ventilating Sewers, Drains,Mines, Hospitals,

and other Structures or Places, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a novel system or method of ventilation forsewers, drains, mines, hospitals, workshops, and other structures orplaces by means of the ignition and explosion of gas or any othersuitable explosive substances or compounds, brought about at determinedpoints or situations.

My invention further relates to means or apparatus for bringing aboutthe explosion.

All systems of ventilation at present in use such as fans or blowers,suctionpumps, fires, &c.--produce a regular and continuous draft of air.The air is renewed chiefly in the drain galleries or rooms near the fanor blower; but if there be openings, (shafts, chimneys, windows, 810..)which allow the entry of the exterior air, this air will replace the airexhausted by the fan, blower, or fire. gases and air contained in thelocalities farthest away will remain stagnant and will not be set inmovement, and the gases will become concentrated and dangerous. Such isnot the case with my system. The explosion of an explosive mixturebrought about in a ventilating shaft, pit, or any other suitable place,produces asudden vacuum and setsin brisk movement the whole strata ofair and gas, even those distant from the point where the explosion isproduced. Even in the case of. ventilators or openings in the sewers forthe purpose of ventilation, and placed in proximity to theventilating-shaft, it would be impossible that air could enter quicklyenough to replace that suddenly exhausted by the explosion, and theshock would thus take effect in all the sewers, drains, galleries, 850.,in communication with the ventilating-shaft.

I proceed with reference to the accompanying drawing to described myinvention as applied to a sewer.

A is the sewer, which is provided with a shaft, B, made of brick-work,sheet or cast iron, or other material. This shaft B commu- It followsthat the nicates with the sewer A by means of an opening, 0, contrivedin the crown or other part thereof. In this shaft, and opposite amanhole, D, therein, I place in a vertical position a cylinder orchamber, a, provided at top and at bottom with valves 1) 0, openingupward.

These valves are weighted, as shown, so as to close instantly at thedesired moment. Into the lower part of this cylinder or chamber alighting-gas or any other suitable gas or explosive vapor is admittedthrough the pipe d; which is brought from the main or other suitablesupply. This pipe is provided witha tap, d Opposite an orifice or port,6, in the cylinder or chamber, burns a jet of gas, f, the burner ofwhich is provided with a tap, and the gas is supplied to this burner bythe service-pipe d, which is a branch of the .main pipe cl. This jet ofgas is protected from the force of the explosion by any suitable means,such as doors or flaps g. The gas entering from the pipe 12 rises in thecylinder or chamber and forms, with the air contained in this latter, anexplosive mixture, which, on filling theupper part of the cylinder orchamber, explodes on reaching the orifice or port 6 opposite thegas-jet. The explosion thus produced raises the valve b at the top ofthe cylinder and drives out suddenly with great force the whole columnof air in the shaft contained above the cylinder. The valve 0 instantlycloses on the explosion taking place, and prevents the flame ignitingthe gas in the main. The vacuum which is thus created produces a briskdraft of air, which sets in movement the whole of the strata of air orof mephitic gas in the sewer. The vacuum created above the shaft by theexplosion also produces a suction, which continues for alimitedtime,according to the force of the explosion. At the expiration of acertain time a fresh explosion takes place, and the same effect isproduced. The interval of time between the explosions can be regulatedat not require any supervision. In place, how" ever of asI ma use unowder or other explosive substance or compound, and efl'ect theexplosion of same by electricity, by a timefuse, or by other suitablemeans. In mines the gases there-such as fire-damp-may even be utilizedto produce partial explosions in the ventilating-shafts, and thusestablish ventilation.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent 1. The method herein specified of withdrawing air and gases fromsewers and other structures to be ventilated, consisting in explodinggases or other substances periodically within a vessel the mouth ofwhich opens in the direction in which the ventilating-current is to beset up and maintained, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the sewer or other structure to be Ventilated,of a vessel to receive explosive material and having its mouth openingin the direction in which the ventilating-current is to be set up andmaintained, and means, substantially as specified, for igniting theexplosive material, as set forth. 25

3. The combination, with a ventilating-column, of a vessel to receiveexplosive gases, a valve at the top tobe opened by the force of theexplosion, a supply-pipe for the gas and a valve over the same closingby the explosion, 0 and a light to ignite the gases, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses. x

ROBERT SLADE ASH.

